Man Severely Wounded by Sea Bird

A beachgoer in Gower, Wales, has been left blind in one eye after being attacked by a sea bird he was attempting to save. Michael Buckland's right eyeball was punctured at least three times and his left eyelid sliced in two by the bird's razor sharp six-inch beak on the beach. He and his wife had seen the injured gannet unable to walk or fly away from the incoming tide, so he scooped it under his arm. However, a dog then ran over to try and attack the bird, leading it to panic, and attack Mr. Buckland by pecking at his eye. Mr Buckland, pouring with blood, had to walk back along the beach for 45 minutes with his girlfriend before reaching help at the caravan site.

He was taken to Singleton Hospital in Swansea, where he underwent emergency surgery.

A specialist eye surgeon carried out the operation, threading 11 stitches across Mr Buckland's eyeball. The movement of his eye was saved, but doctors were unable to save his sight.

The RSPB has described this as a very rare event and have advised the public that if they find an injured bird they should go first to the RSPB rather than attempting to handle it themselves.